Hello everyone! I am excited to share 3 templates I created that help me stay organized and be on top of my planning game. The templates I’ve created are perfect for any student that has tons of important dates and deadlines to keep track of, including assignments, quizzes, exams, practicals, meetings, and more. Not only are they great for students, but they are also great for anyone who just wants to add a little more organization to their life! I love planning and structure/organization makes me so, so happy. I have a predominantly “blue” personality, but am very “gold” in terms of being systematic, orderly, and organized. Life can be very busy and just flat out hectic at times - especially as a DPT student. In addition to being on top of due dates and deadlines, using these planning tools allow me to develop routines and stick to them, set short term and long term goals for myself, track progress, and just overall hold myself accountable. The templates include a 12-month 2020 calendar, weekly block schedule, and daily block schedule. Each template can be accessed on my Google Drive via the links below.
1) 12-Month 2020 Calendar
I created this calendar in the form of a Google Doc to help my classmates and I stay organized. I started with one blank table for each month of the semester and added in the dates for that particular month (starting with Sunday and ending on Saturday). I added a color-coded key to the footer so we can easily match up a certain color with each class - which helps not only for organization, but also makes the calendar more clutter-free since the name of the class does not have to be written down over and over again with each assignment. At the beginning of each semester, I go through each syllabus for my classes and add all of the important dates and reminders to the calendar. Since it is in a Google Doc format, all of my classmates have the ability to add to it during the semester and keep each other accountable. We keep track of our dates and deadlines for exams, quizzes, and assignments. We add reminders for meetings, days we do not have class, and days we need to dress up for guest speakers. If any dates or deadlines are added, removed, or changed, one of us is on it right away! We also add fun things we have planned to do together and look forward to like our Beer Olympics, Halloween party, and Friendsgiving! If you’re a student, I highly recommend adding this calendar to your Google Drive and sharing it with your classmates so you all can keep everything organized in one place - I promise they’ll love you a whole lot for it and will be very thankful!
Example:
CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THIS TEMPLATE ON GOOGLE DRIVE!
After clicking on the link, you will be taken to my Google Drive where the file is located. It will be in 'viewing mode.’ In order to edit the Google Doc, click on ‘Add to my drive’ or ‘Make a copy’ and open the new file. Note: if the file is downloaded and opened in a program like Microsoft Word, the formatting will likely be skewed and it may look a little different. I suggest editing it in Google Docs; however, it can also be edited in Microsoft Word - adjustments may need to be made here and there to align the formatting. If you would like to download the file from Google Docs, I suggest exporting it as either a (.docx) or (.pdf) file.
2) Weekly Block Schedule
I created this block schedule template in undergrad and lived by it. My schedule was mostly the same from week to week, so I included my classes, internship, work, and gym schedule on here. I think this style of planning is great for a general overview of what your week will look like. I can never seem to remember what my class schedule is until I’m halfway through the semester, so I usually print this out and stick it in the front of my planner (which is always attached to my hip) to remind me what my class schedule is and where I need to be throughout the day.
CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THIS TEMPLATE ON GOOGLE DRIVE!
After clicking on the link, you will be taken to my Google Drive where the file is located. It will be in 'viewing mode.’ In order to edit the Google Doc, click on ‘Add to my drive’ or ‘Make a copy’ and open the new file. Note: if the file is downloaded and opened in a program like Microsoft Word, the formatting will likely be skewed and it may look a little different. I suggest editing it in Google Docs; however, it can also be edited in Microsoft Word - adjustments may need to be made here and there to align the formatting. If you would like to download the file from Google Docs, I suggest exporting it as either a (.docx) or (.pdf) file.
3) Daily Block Schedule
This is a new template I created that I am soooo excited about using! I think this style of planning is very beneficial to break down the day into time blocks - especially during very busy days or even weeks. I am utilizing this tool daily to keep track of my schedule and other goals/things I want to accomplish. Once hectic weeks like midterms and finals roll around, I will definitely be utilizing it to plan out the entire day and schedule the times I will be studying for each different class, as well as completing other daily tasks like study breaks, meal prepping, cleaning, going to the gym, walking my dog, etc. What I love most about this template are the extra to-do, habit tracker, reminders, and notes sections on the far right. My to-do list consists of any extra things I want to accomplish in the day, such as making a certain phone call, running errands, answering emails, paying bills, etc. My habit tracker list usually consists of going to the gym, taking my vitamins, drinking 120 oz. of water, completing my skin care and oral care routines, meditation/stretching, and going on a lengthy walk with my dog. My reminders list consists of upcoming due dates and other important things I need to remember for that day or sometime in the near future. Last but not least, the notes section is a great way to jot down any other important information or thoughts. I used hollow circles for the bullet points of these sections so each item can be checked off once it has been completed. Some options for editing it each day include updating the contents electronically on Google Docs, printing it out and handwriting the contents, or downloading it to an iPad/tablet and writing the contents with an electronic writing tool like an Apple Pencil.
Example:
CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THIS TEMPLATE ON GOOGLE DRIVE!
After clicking on the link, you will be taken to my Google Drive where the file is located. It will be in 'viewing mode.’ In order to edit the Google Doc, click on ‘Add to my drive’ or ‘Make a copy’ and open the new file. Note: if the file is downloaded and opened in a program like Microsoft Word, the formatting will likely be skewed and it may look a little different. I suggest editing it in Google Docs; however, it can also be edited in Microsoft Word - adjustments may need to be made here and there to align the formatting. If you would like to download the file from Google Docs, I suggest exporting it as either a (.docx) or (.pdf) file.
I hope you find this post helpful and are inspired to be on your organization/planning game! If you have any questions about viewing, editing, or downloading any of these templates I’ve created, please leave them in a comment below!
Happy planning! :)